after a trip in an ambulance and some really good drugs, i now have to make an appointment tomorrow to have my gall bladder removed. yay.
jozjozjoz is NOT happy about this.
i was at work, minding my own business when i experienced the most excruciating pain i have ever had the pleasure to endure. my pharmacist says it's worse than labor and childbirth, without the payoff in the end (which i'm assuming is the joy of having the kid). anyway, i was incoherent and had the security guards in the building trying to figure out what to do with me (they eventually decided to call the paramedics) and then had to try and explain the nature of the pain to an emt trainee. there's nothing i like better than to be a 'teaching case' for a newbie.
anyway, i couldn't seem to remember where i was, and they repeatedly asked me what i wanted to do, but all i could think of was hitting my head really hard on the table to try and knock myself out so i couldn't feel the pain anymore. i guess i said i wanted to go to the hospital, because i ended up in the back of an ambulance and was deposited in the emergency ward of a very small, very busy hospital.
but they gave me demerol. ahhhhh.....that's the ticket. and yes, i did remember to call jozjozjoz and tell her where i was. or was it my brother who called?
so they came to draw blood. then i got a nifty trip through the corridors and a bunch of lube on my midsection (where do i get me one of those lube-ovens? it was niiiice and warm when the tech was squirting it on) for the ultrasound. then it was back to the er, where i waited 45 more minutes for the results.
but at least jozjozjoz was there to keep me company. in my loopy, demerol-induced haze.
the doctor returned to say that indeed, i did have gallstones. so they wrote me a prescription for vicodin (which i am currently under the influence of, if you hadn't already noticed) and had me sign my life away, then they let me go home.
i went to see my doctor today and he recommended surgery. my nurse practitioner friend also recommended the surgery. jozjozjoz would rather i dissolve the little bastards and keep the gall bladder. but the fact that i can't seem to ingest food without an attack seems to be making me consider the surgery even more.
sigh. tomorrow will be lots of phone calls and research, weighing my options and finding the best place to have surgery. maybe a second opinion. or 12.
must sleep now, the vicodin's making me type funny.
For the record, it was your brother who called and told me you were in the ER. Then I had to sit at work for 3 hours worrying about you and not know what was wrong and how bad it was.
I just don't like the idea of my Hunny going in to surgery, but if it's better for you not to have a gall bladder, then I won't complain (too much).
[Yes everyone, I *am* trying to take care of the Yosh!]
Posted by: :: jozjozjoz :: at October 22, 2003 12:55 AMSo sorry. Hopefully they can "scope" you, hubby had to have it done a couple of years ago and it proved a quicker recovery and minimal scarring.
*hugs*
Posted by: gingersmack at October 22, 2003 12:59 AMYowza! Get well soon.
Posted by: sledge at October 22, 2003 01:25 AMOh my! Good luck with the surgery and here's to a speedy recovery!
Posted by: ~Mel at October 22, 2003 01:31 AMholy crap! *sends good mojo*
Posted by: tj at October 22, 2003 08:21 AMGood luck. I had to have that same surgery last year. It wasn't too bad. It was well worth it to me so I would NEVER again feel that gallstone pain.
Posted by: Shawn at October 22, 2003 08:36 AMHey ya Yoshi
Hope you have a speedy recovery. Let me know if you need anything.
Posted by: Sharky the Kid at October 22, 2003 09:02 AMNothing like the pain of a kidney or gall stone. Make sure you think real hard about that surgery. This could just be a one time thing that is remedied with diet. Use surgery as a last resort.
Posted by: Michael at October 22, 2003 12:09 PMWhat Michael said.
Posted by: :: jozjozjoz :: at October 22, 2003 12:15 PMGet better soon!
Posted by: Jane at October 22, 2003 01:26 PMbelieve me, michael, if this was the first time this had happened, i would be thinking more along the lines of a diet change. but this is the third time i'm going through this, earlier this spring i suffered through the pain every time i ingested food for about 2 months. if the surgery makes it go away, i'm doing it.
Posted by: yoshi! at October 22, 2003 02:20 PMYou COULD try eating better, Hunny... :)
[/nag]
Posted by: :: jozjozjoz :: at October 22, 2003 02:26 PMWow, the human body is amazing *and* cruel. Stones! in your gall bladder! (I don't even know where that is)...
Feel better soon, yoshi! Research your surgeon!
I had the surgery last year too! I went to the emergency room via ambulance after calling 911. The police AND fire department came along with the EMT people. The pain was unlike anything I have ever experienced! Demerol is the shit, by the way! I went into suregery immediately because my gall bladder was oozing (eww). They thought they were going to have to remove part of my liver from damage.
If you have any questions, just email me or call (you have the number!). I had mine done laproscopically (little incisions)and I barely have scars now. You will be in and out in no time!
Posted by: Hunter at October 22, 2003 09:15 PMwell Yosh, the good thing is it wasn't something more serious. Think of it that way. Gallbladder surgery isn't too bad of one. My supervisor went in this past August for one and was gone for a matter of 4-5 days...taking it easy in the beginning
But a lot of it had to do with diet changes and well exercising and TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF!
Good luck, I had mine out a few years ago and it was well worth it! Hope you are better soon!
Posted by: Busy Mom at October 23, 2003 06:34 AM